Question 1

Popular male magazine themes include all but

Accepted Answer

A)   politics
B)   music
C)   art and film
D)   domestic jobs D

Question 2

Based on your authors' study of men's magazines, a general rule for the cult of masculinity appears to be:

Accepted Answer

A)   "Real men are free and adventurous."
B)   "Real men are self-consumed with their personal appearances."
C)   "Real men are not concerned with getting and keeping a woman."
D)   both A and C above D

Question 3

What is symbolic annihilation and why is it a problem in the media? Using one type of media (newspapers, magazines, television, advertising), illustrate the problem of symbolic annihilation and speculate on its likely consequences.

Accepted Answer

Symbolic annihilation refers to the underrepresentation or misrepresentation of certain groups in the media, leading to their marginalization and invisibility. This can occur based on factors such as race, gender, sexuality, and socioeconomic status.

One type of media where symbolic annihilation is a problem is in television. This can be seen in the lack of diverse representation in leading roles, the stereotypical portrayal of certain groups, and the underrepresentation of marginalized communities in news coverage. For example, women and people of color are often underrepresented in leading roles, and when they are portrayed, it is often through stereotypes or caricatures. This can lead to the reinforcement of harmful stereotypes and the perpetuation of inequality.

The consequences of symbolic annihilation in the media are significant. It can contribute to the internalization of negative stereotypes, the erosion of self-esteem, and the perpetuation of discrimination and inequality in society. When certain groups are consistently marginalized or misrepresented in the media, it can also lead to a lack of empathy and understanding among the general population. This can have real-world implications in terms of policy-making, social attitudes, and interpersonal relationships.

In conclusion, symbolic annihilation in the media is a significant problem with far-reaching consequences. It perpetuates inequality and discrimination, reinforces harmful stereotypes, and contributes to the marginalization of certain groups in society. It is essential for media outlets to address this issue by striving for diverse and accurate representation in their content.

Question 4

"Linguistic sexism"

Accepted Answer

A)   refers to ways in which language devalues members of one sex.
B)   involves ignoring women all together.
C)   includes the smaller problem of semantic derogation.
D)   all of the above

Question 5

Thomson and colleagues (2001) found that

Accepted Answer

A)   men are less likely than women to use profanity in email messages.
B)   online communications allow men to be more expressive than they would be inFace-to-face communications.
C)   men write more detailed email messages.
D)   individuals adapted the gendered style of their communications to the perceived sex of the recipients.

Question 6

Research on sex differences in communication styles indicates that

Accepted Answer

A)   women rudely interrupt others more than men to.
B)   women talk more than men do.
C)   men are more successful in focusing conversations on topics they introduce.
D)   men stand farther away from members of the opposite sex when speaking to them than women do.

Question 7

The media practice of ignoring, trivializing, or condemning women is known as

Accepted Answer

A)   semantic derogation.
B)   symbolic annihilation.
C)   linguistic alienation.
D)   blatant sexism.

Question 8

The most common role for women depicted in advertisements is

Accepted Answer

A)   business woman.
B)   waitress.
C)   housewife.
D)   teacher.

Question 9

Regular reading of a daily newspaper is in a recent decline.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Which is an example of linguistic sexism?

Accepted Answer

A)   "he/man" used specifically for males
B)   "Ms."
C)   "humanity"
D)   "Mrs. John Smith"

Question 11

Gender stereotypes are still prominent on television.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Current empirical evidence indicates that the relationship between viewing violent programs and engaging in actual violent behavior is

Accepted Answer

A)   casual.
B)   at least correlational.
C)   spurious.
D)   nonexistent (i.e., there is no relationship between these two variables) .

Question 13

One of the most significant changes on prime-time television since the 1970s has been

Accepted Answer

A)   the incorporation of women's rights and gender equality themes.
B)   that most programs became racially motivated.
C)   strong feminists are now portrayed positively.
D)   all of the above

Question 14

What is linguistic sexism? Give two examples to illustrate.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is linguistic sexism? Give two examples...

Question 15

According to the reflection hypothesis

Accepted Answer

A)   media content mirrors the behaviors, relationships, values, and norms most prevalent in a society.
B)   the media actively shape and create culture.
C)   the media are on the cutting edge of social change.
D)   media content reflects the wishes of corporate sponsors who are rarely in tune with the views of the general public.

Question 16

Research shows that advertisements that emphasize sex or that use women's sexuality to sell a product

Accepted Answer

A)   appeal to and are effective with men.
B)   are often appealing to teenagers of both sexes.
C)   are ineffective with a large segment of female consumers.
D)   all of the above
E)   only A and B above

Question 17

Discuss the increase in gay and lesbian characters on prime-time television programs. How have they been portrayed differently than in the past? Cite an example to support your response.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the increase in gay and lesbian...

Question 18

Discuss gender messages in advertisements. Does sexism exist and if so, how can it be changed? How are racial and ethnic minorities portrayed differently than their White counterparts?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss gender messages in advertisements. Does sexism...

Question 19

Studies of same-sex conversations show that

Accepted Answer

A)   men talk more than women.
B)   women's conversations may be described as cooperative.
C)   women strive for conversational control.
D)   men's conversations are friendlier than women's.

Question 20

The overwhelming majority of advertisements in Essence magazine are

Accepted Answer

A)   professional fashion and accessories.
B)   cosmetics
C)   hair-care
D)   B and C

Exam 6: The Great Communicators: Language and the Media